Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of Chaos

Plus: a year of war in Ukraine; how Monopoly became America’s cruellest board game; and, is artificial light poisoning the planet? View in browser | Update your preferences Monday, February 20, 2023 Letter from Israel Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of Chaos As unrest roils the country, a controversial figure from the far right helps Benjamin Netanyahu hold on to power. By Ruth Margalit From the News Desk Photo Booth The Impact of Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine’s Power Grid The Kremlin wagered that by depriving Ukrainians of electricity—and heat and water—during wintertime, they would sap the country’s resolve. By Joshua Yaffa The Political Scene Podcast A Year of War in Ukraine David Remnick talks with the historian Stephen Kotkin and the Kyiv-based journalist Sevgil Musaieva about a year of disaster, and what a Ukrainian victory would look like. With David Remnick Editor’s Pick Books Is Artificial Light Poisoning the Planet? A Swedish ecologist argues that its ubiquity is wrecking our habitats—and our health. By Adam Gopnik Culture Dept. Cultural Comment How Monopoly Became America’s Cruellest Board Game In “Ruthless: The Secret History of Monopoly,” we learn how a game meant to critique capitalism came to embody it. By Simon Parkin Cultural Comment Dansk and the Promise of a Simple Scandinavian Life A new monograph documents how Scandinavian design charmed America. By Alexandra Lange Dept. of Collaboration Two Knuckleheads Walking Around Talking Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas, of the band Whitmer Thomas, a.k.a. Clay Tatum and the Whitmer Thomases, pick up some merch and muse on their first feature film. By Naomi Fry Video Dept. The New Yorker Documentary A Veteran’s Islamophobia Transformed, in “Stranger at the Gate” In this documentary short, which has been nominated for a 2023 Academy Award, a community recollects how a would-be terrorist made—and then abandoned—a violent plan. Film by Joshua Seftel Text by Jasper K. Lo Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Liz Maynes-Aminzade Daily Shouts The Best Fossils for Your Buck The skeleton of the rat that your cat dragged into the living room, the turkey wishbone your nephews were squabbling over, and more. By Francesca Carington and Janelle Retka Crossword A Challenging Puzzle Marks around an aside, for short: six letters. By Paolo Pasco Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.